Surplus for games trust

The trust responsible for organising the New Zealand Masters
Games in Dunedin is celebrating a $104,000 surplus.

The result came as figures showed the 2014 games attracted
5379 competitors to Dunedin, half from outside the city and
many accompanied by supporters.

The average spend was $717 per person, mainly on
accommodation, food and beverage, contributing to a total
economic impact of $3.5 million for the city's economy, a
survey of Masters Games participants showed.

Dunedin (New Zealand) Masters Games Trust co-ordinator Vicki
Kestila credited the result to careful budgeting and naming
rights sponsorship from the Southern Trust.

Trust chairman and Dunedin city councillor John Bezett said
the results were ''particularly good'' given one of the
games' major catchment areas, Christchurch, was still
recovering from the Canterbury earthquakes.

A full report on the results would be presented to the
Dunedin City Council's community and environment committee
today.